Meulon, Renfred, Will Longdon and Jack Halfpenny followed John Jacob and William Ashford towards them.

‘Sir Thomas,’ said Meulon stepping forward, ‘we have never disobeyed you but today we stand as one man and beg you to let us ride with you.’

Killbere threw his arm out. ‘You see, Thomas, not one man will abandon you to this madness.’

Blackstone faced them. ‘Our blazon says we are defiant unto death. Those words on our shields are there to confront our enemies, not to tear apart everything we have done together, the sacrifices we have made, or to dishonour our friends who died at our side. It was the Prince who gave us our blazon, who acknowledged our brotherhood. We swore an oath and I depend on every man here and those you command to honour it. I will take every one of you in my heart so I will not be alone, but I must give chase to the killers and deliver justice. Follow my orders and finish what our Prince asked of us.’

Blackstone’s gentle persuasion gave his captains no means of reply.

‘Wait for me,’ he said, ‘and then together we ride home.’

*

The captains returned to their men. Killbere rode at their head. Álvaraz’s men cosseted the King, riding as close escort. By the end of the day they would be at the coast and their duty fulfilled.

‘I am honoured to have been at your side,’ said Álvaraz.

‘And I yours,’ said Blackstone.

‘The map the old man drew for you is enough?’

‘Even a single horseman leaves signs that a blind man could find. They won’t expect anyone to be in pursuit.’

The two men clasped hands. ‘I will pray God keeps you safe so you may inflict His punishment on them and cast them into hell,’ Álvaraz said and wheeled his horse. The order to ride on was called and the column eased onto the road to Corunna.

Blackstone stared at Don Pedro as he rode past but the King sat upright, looking neither left nor right. Behind him the High Steward glanced at Blackstone and made the sign of the cross. A blessing or a curse? No one had treated his lord and master with such violence or contempt as the Englishman. Perhaps, Blackstone thought, the old patrician saw him as the devil’s disciple.

John Jacob drew his horse next to Blackstone. ‘I am your squire. I will ride with you as I always have. It is my obligation to accompany you. If I do not, then I am shamed.’

Blackstone smiled. ‘Who could ever shame a man like you, John? I owe you so much. When you got Christiana and my children to safety all those years ago, that can never be repaid.’

‘Sir Thomas, the past binds us all, but I have my duty. Shall we go?’